Steady rest



y 1967 A. s. DINSMORE 3,320,839

STEADY REST Original Filed April 11, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 N Y INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

M y 1967 A. s. DINSMORE 3,320,839 v STEADY REST 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 11, 1963 mm E w mm INVENTOR. arl /tui 5. Zin /710m? ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,320,839 STEADY REST Arthur S. Dinsmore, Seneca Falls, N.Y., assignor to Seneca Falls Machine Co., Seneca Falls, NY.

Original application Apr. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 272,278, now

Patent No. 3,234,829, dated Feb. 15, 1966. Divided and this application Feb. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 526,780

1 Claim. (Cl. 82-21) This application is a division of my pending application Ser. No. 272,278 filed Apr. 11, 1963, now Patent No. 3,234,829.

This invention relates to a new and useful steady rest particularly adapted for use in conjunction with lathes and similar machine tools.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a sequentially operable duplex steady rest.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing features will become clearly apparent from the ensuing detailed description of one, illustrative embodiment thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of a duplex steady rest of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof, certain parts being broken away to show details; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine tool control system incorporating a duplex steady rest of my invention.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment depicted in the accompanying drawings, there is shown a duplex steady rest of my invention comprising a pair of steady rests 1, 1', identical except for the configuration of the work-engaging rollers. While shown in horizontal position, the steady rests normally are generally vertical. The steady rests 1, 1 have a common mounting, comprising a pad 2 secured to the base 3 of the machine tool, as by appropriate bolt fastenings 4 and 5, and a plate 6 secured to pad 2. Plate 6 is normal to pad 2, whereby they comprise a T-shaped mounting.

The duplex unit offers certain advantages, as will become apparent. However, each steady rest can be used singly, and since they are identical in construction and operation, only one will be described in detail.

Each steady rest 1, 1 is provided with three workengaging members in the form of rollers. Two of the rollers, shown at 7, are mounted on crank type rock arms 8 pivotally supported at 9 between mounting plate 6 and a plate 10. The third rollers, shown at 7, is mounted on a rock arm 11 pivoted at 12 between plates 6 and 10. The axes of pivots 9 and 12 are parallel to the work axis 28, and arms 8 and 11 extend generally circumferentially of the work axis.

An operating member in the form of a slide block 13 moves linearly along plate 6, being guided by a vertically elongated key 14 which is secured in a slot in plate 6. Key 14 engages in a key way 16 in the back of slide block 13, and the slide block is held against plate 6, in sliding engagement therewith, by a pair of flanged blocks 17 overhanging slide block 13 and carried by plate 6.

A pair of brackets 18 are carried by slide 13, being secured thereto as by fastenings 19. At their upper ends, brackets 18 are bifurcated to releasably clamp about an eccentric pivot 20 on which the lower ends of connecting links 21 are journalled. Pivots 20 are clamped in adjusted position about their axes by bolts 29. At their upper ends, links 21 are pivoted, at 22, to the outer ends of operating arms 8 on bell cranks 8. Another connecting link 23 is pivoted at its lower end between slide block 13 and a plate 24 carried thereby, as shown at 25. At

3,320,839 Patented May 23, 1967 its upper end, link 23 is provided with a clevis 26 journalling the axle 27 of wheel 7'.

Thus, arms 8 and 11 are pivoted about their axes 9 and 12 upon linear movement of slide block 13. This movement is provided by a suitable motor, such as the air cylinder 30 pivotally mounted at 31 on a bracket 32 and containing a piston, not shown. Piston rod 33- is pivoted at its outer end to a bell crank 34 having a fixed pivot 35 on a bracket 36. A connecting rod 37 is secured at one end in a head 38 pivoted at 39 to plate 24 and block 13. At its other end, rod 37 is threaded in a socket 40, being locked in adjusted position by nut 41, whereby the length of rod 37 can be selectively varied. The lower end of socket 40 is pivoted on bell crank 34, as shown at 42.

Rock arms 8 and 11 position the work-engaging rollers 7, 7' equal distances from pivots 9 and 12. Also, rock arm 11 and operating arms 8' extend at identical angles, although one operating arm 8' extends upwardly and outwardly in the opposite direction from the other operating arm 8' and rock arm 11. Eccentric pivots 22 provide a means for adjusting the angle of operating arms 8' into correspondence with the angle of rock arm 11, and thereby compensate for manufacturing tolerances. Links 21 and 23 are connected to arms 8' and 11 at equal distances from pivots 9 and 12.

Thus, work-engaging rollers 7, 7 are swung through identical arcs toward and away from work axis 28, upon movement of slide block 13 in opposite directions. As a result, rollers 7, 7' are always centered relative to work axis 28, regardless of their position along the arcs comprising their range of movement. The position of such arcs can be adjusted, to accommodate different ranges of workpiece diameters, by adjusting the length of connecting rod 37 and thereby varying the arcuate position of rollers 7, 7' for a given position of motor 30.

The provision of a duplex steady rest enables sequential operation, while providing a compact unit. For example, when used with a lathe type of machine tool having a carriage movable in the direction of arrow 44 (FIG. 3) by the feed 45, the first steady rest 1 will be open, to pass the cutting tool, while the second steady rest 1 will engage and support the workpiece. Then, once the cut ting tool is past steady rest 1, it will engage and support the workpiece while steady rest 1 is open to pass the tool.

To this end, each motor 30 can be under control of a solenoid actuated valve 46, 46'. The energizing circuits to the solenoids are controlled by switches 47, 47'. These switches are actuated by dogs 48, 49 movable with carriage 50. In the example shown, steady rest 1' has been actuated to engage the workpiece, while steady rest 1 is open to pass the cutting tool. As the cutting tool moves beyond the steady rest 1, dog 48 actuates switch 47 to energize valve 46, causing steady rest 1 to close and engage the workpiece. Dog 49 then actuates switch 47 to deenergize valve 46, causing steady rest 1 to open. This cycle can be repeated, for multiple pass operation.

In addition, steady rests 1, 1 are provided with safety switches 51, 51, respectively, arranged to control energization of the carriage feed 45. Switches 51, 51' are arranged to be closed by slide blocks 13 when the latter have moved to open the rollers.

Thus, if steady rest 1 is closed, prior to passage of the tool, switch 51 will be open and will thus prevent the flow of energy through it to the carriage feed. If steady rest 1' is closed, after the cutting tool has moved beyond the steady rest 1, and the latter has had time to close upon the workpiece, switch 51 will be open and will thus prevent the fiow of energy through it to the carriage feed.

Accordingly, it is seen that my invention fully accomplishes its intended objects. While I have disclosed and described in detail only one embodiment of my invention, that has been done by way of illustration only, it being intended that the scope of my invention be defined by the appended claim.

Having fully disclosed and completely described my invention, and its mode of operation, what I claim as new In combination with a machine having a tool carriage and feed means for moving it along a workpiece, first and second workpiece steady rests arranged in mutually spaced relation in the direction of carriage movement and respectively initially disengaged from and engaged with the workpiece; operating means for engaging and disengaging said steady rests with respect to the workpiece; control means responsive to the movement of said carriage for actuating said operating means sequentially to engage the first steady rest after the passage of the tool carriage and to disengage the second steady rest prior to arrival of the tool carriage thereat; and safety switch means responsive to the positions of said steady rests and operative to interrupt the carriage feed means when a steady rest is engaging the workpiece and preventing passage of the tool carriage.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,245,922 6/ 1941 Johnson. 2,526,487 10/1950 KurZWeil et al. 8239 X 3,234,829 2/1966 Dinsmore 82-39 WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

LEOIDAS VLACHOS, Assistant Examiner. 

